Red Cross ex-boss awarded K1.5m

THE Industrial Relations Court (IRC) has awarded former Red Cross Society secretary-general Charles Mushitu K1.5 million in damages for unfair and wrongful dismissal.

In his judgment delivered last Wednesday, Industrial Relations Court judge Martin Musaluke said Mr Mushitu was unfairly dismissed from employment by the Red Cross Society because he did not misconduct himself as alleged.
“We have already found that there was procedural impropriety and unfairness in the way the complainant was dismissed on March 21, 2012,” Mr Justice Musaluke said.
He said the dismissal on the ground that Mr Mushitu used abusive language in his emails to his superiors was also unfair because the Red Cross Society did not conduct a proper investigation into the matter.

Mr Justice Musaluke also noted that the action to dismiss Mr Mushitu on grounds that he was paid K10,000 as housing allowance instead of 30 percent of his basic pay when he moved out of the organisation’s rented house was unfair because by agreeing to pay him the said amount, conditions of service were varied.
Mr Justice Musaluke also said it was unfair to dismiss Mr Mushitu from employment on grounds that he kept a second personal-to-holder vehicle at his home because he was given permission to do so by then Red Cross Society president, a Mr Fachi.
And Mr Mushitu said he will donate part of the money awarded to him as damages to 10 branches of the Zambia Red Cross Society to assist them in their operations.
Mr Mushitu said he decided to plough back to the Red Cross Society to assist the country in alleviating poverty.
“As part of my gesture to celebrate Zambia’s independence anniversary, I have decided to plough back this money into the Red Cross Society so that they can continue to uplift the welfare of the many suffering masses in this country,” he said.